Impulse - Phase II
Next-gen Digital Distribution Platform
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 by Island Dog | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Stardock is excited to announce that “phase two” of its digital download platform, Impulse, has begun and all updates, new games and software applications will soon be live. Phase two of Impulse sees new games from 2k (Civilizations III, Shattered Union, Sid Meier’s Pirates! and Sid Meier’s Railroads!) and Tilted Mill’s Children of the Nile enhanced edition. New software applications include a host of Corel applications like WordPerfect Office X4, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4, and Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 as well as software applications from Genie Soft, Iolo, and AVG Internet Security and Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware software.
Phase two of Impulse also adds the ability for users to install and update third-party and freeware programs that are available via Impulse. This makes the transfer of the catalogue of programs installed on a user’s machine extraordinarily simple from machine to machine as it’s all centrally located on Impulse. Phase two has already addressed user feedback and incorporates significantly faster load times, downloads, a smart queue option and a smarter updating process which exponentially decreases processing time for updates.
All new titles and software applications are now available at www.impulsedriven.com
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JeremyG
Reply #2 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 2:08 PM
Reply #2 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 2:08 PM
Uhhhh Is this really what people wanted?
When I click Store, the first thing I see is not content, but ADS! Then if I scroll down a bit (my window wants maximized) i see a tabbed control styled EXACTLY like the application itself, which is pretty confusing. Worse yet....it only shows a few items "per page".
Click on the games tab, I see "Page 1 of 23". 23 PAGES? Who has time to look through that. Isnt the point of having a client-side application so that you dont have to navigate "pages" and instead just get all content at once?
Then I click on the "My Desktop" tab, and expect to see APPLICATIONS. Instead I see applications as well as THEMES! Why would themes be on the same page as applications? Who knows.
I wish GalCiv 2 updates were still available on SDC.
When I click Store, the first thing I see is not content, but ADS! Then if I scroll down a bit (my window wants maximized) i see a tabbed control styled EXACTLY like the application itself, which is pretty confusing. Worse yet....it only shows a few items "per page".
Click on the games tab, I see "Page 1 of 23". 23 PAGES? Who has time to look through that. Isnt the point of having a client-side application so that you dont have to navigate "pages" and instead just get all content at once?
Then I click on the "My Desktop" tab, and expect to see APPLICATIONS. Instead I see applications as well as THEMES! Why would themes be on the same page as applications? Who knows.
I wish GalCiv 2 updates were still available on SDC.
essenceoftao
Reply #3 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:06 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:06 PM
I went to the new site. Looks very nice to me. I use impulse. I still have the original stardock central next to it. I guess this new site is strictly a download page. I had expected to have to sign in. Should or could I delete stardock central. Clearify some of this for me.
Jeff T
Reply #4 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:26 PM
Reply #4 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:26 PM
I like the new color scheme. It is much easier to read. 
Littleboy
Reply #5 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:27 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:27 PM
I liked green better. No, really 
Was it working with the previous version of Impulse? Component Tray needs Stardock Central to be installed to function properly. If you only have Impulse installed, it will not work.
Since i updated to phase II, component tray will not install correctly. when i run the program, i get an error that says the path cannot be found and to reinstall it which i have done twice and still does not work.
Was it working with the previous version of Impulse? Component Tray needs Stardock Central to be installed to function properly. If you only have Impulse installed, it will not work.
Philly0381
Reply #6 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:28 PM
Actually Impulse provides a lot more functions that were not available in SDC.
Nope, you don't have to uninstall SDC.
Reply #6 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:28 PM
I went to the new site. Looks very nice to me. I use impulse. I still have the original stardock central next to it. I guess this new site is strictly a download page. I had expected to have to sign in. Should or could I delete stardock central. Clearify some of this for me.
Actually Impulse provides a lot more functions that were not available in SDC.
Nope, you don't have to uninstall SDC.
dwax
Reply #7 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 4:56 PM
Reply #7 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 4:56 PM
Time to uninstall!!! Sounds like a Trojan. I will update it all!!
Sounds like a Trojan. I will update it all!!
GhoS
Reply #8 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:31 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:31 PM
I love the newer colors! Its not as "pretty" lol. JeremyG complained about the store being ADS, ummm a store is ads in a sense. The usual intent is you want to buy something when you go to the store, so hence ads to entice you to do just that.
Apparently JeremyG also didn't check out the filter tab which would allow you to view just themes or just apps. The reason why some themes appear in there is because they are applications as well (MyColors). Also click "Expanded View" and that games page is only 12 pages 
I find it irrational to think just because its a client/server app that all the content should be on one page without having to advance.
I do think there should be a search engine just for that page, but instead the search takes you to somewhere outside the nice black/orange pages.
All in all its very nice. Even if it still doesn't have skin viewing which I realize is not a top priority to add if at all.
Just want to know when I will be able to start adding my favorite apps to it (not a gamer)
(btw don't like to type in all one paragraph but Firefox changes it all that way and takes out my paragraph breaks )
I find it irrational to think just because its a client/server app that all the content should be on one page without having to advance.
I do think there should be a search engine just for that page, but instead the search takes you to somewhere outside the nice black/orange pages.
All in all its very nice. Even if it still doesn't have skin viewing which I realize is not a top priority to add if at all.
Just want to know when I will be able to start adding my favorite apps to it (not a gamer)
(btw don't like to type in all one paragraph but Firefox changes it all that way and takes out my paragraph breaks )
dwax
Reply #9 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:29 PM
Reply #9 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:29 PM
Stardock you have gone to far with this! To update your own programs is ok, even tho I don't approve of "SILENT" updates in the back ground! Now you want to silent all my games and other applications.When are you going to stop?Some programs I don't want updated, and with this it wont be an option!
To update your own programs is ok, even tho I don't approve of "SILENT" updates in the back ground! Now you want to silent all my games and other applications.When are you going to stop?Some programs I don't want updated, and with this it wont be an option!
angus1949
Reply #10 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:42 PM
Reply #10 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:42 PM
Does sdmcp.exe have to be running now that Impulse.exe is running in processes?
I like the new color much better and it loads so much quicker. I do think updating software automatically should be optional on a per program basis.
Thanks for all the hard work Stardock!
scorpNZ
Reply #11 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:07 PM
Reply #11 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:07 PM
Does sdmcp.exe have to be running now that Impulse.exe is running in processes? I like the new color much better and it loads so much quicker. I do think updating software automatically should be optional on a per program basis. Thanks for all the hard work Stardock!
I use to shut that process down "sdmcp.exe" now that i've dumped SDC for impulse there was a quick start entry in startup which in turn creates impulse.exe,i used ccleaner tools option to delete the impulse entry since i'm not concerned about impulse loading,now there is not an impulse.exe running which quite frankly i see no need for anyway,impulse still works but now it's when i want it too.
As far as i'm aware the only update that happens is the impulse software all other software has to be updated manually i.e cfx,objectdesktop,objectdock etc,can't comment on games i'm a real gamer i use a console 
JeremyG
Reply #12 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:45 PM
Reply #12 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:45 PM
JeremyG complained about the store being ADS, ummm a store is ads in a sense. The usual intent is you want to buy something when you go to the store, so hence ads to entice you to do just that. Apparently JeremyG also didn't check out the filter tab which would allow you to view just themes or just apps. The reason why some themes appear in there is because they are applications as well (MyColors). Also click "Expanded View" and that games page is only 12 pages I find it irrational to think just because its a client/server app that all the content should be on one page without having to advance.
I was actually giving my "first 2 minutes impression". Which is about all you get from a new user.
None of it makes sense on first load. While Stardock may like to consider "My Colors" to be "Applications", Joe Average would not.
Nor would Joe Average click through 23 pages of games....especially if the first 2 happen to suck.
Bebi Bulma
Reply #13 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:50 PM
I agree there. There should be an option for how many items per page you want (10, 20, 50, etc).
Reply #13 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:50 PM
Nor would Joe Average click through 23 pages of games....especially if the first 2 happen to suck.
I agree there. There should be an option for how many items per page you want (10, 20, 50, etc).
zakai1369
Reply #14 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:12 PM
I know it's not quite the same as using the skin browser in SDC but at least they did add the gallery button in that big white info section to the right. At least that way it will take you straight to the WC gallery for whichever app you have clicked.
Uhm... none of the programs update without you telling them to update. Or at least on the desktop tab (which is the only one I have any programs in so far) they won't. And you can even click that little blue orb up there and set it so that Impulse won't even update itself without first asking you.
Reply #14 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:12 PM
Even if it still doesn't have skin viewing which I realize is not a top priority to add if at all.
I know it's not quite the same as using the skin browser in SDC but at least they did add the gallery button in that big white info section to the right. At least that way it will take you straight to the WC gallery for whichever app you have clicked.
Some programs I don't want updated, and with this it wont be an option!
Uhm... none of the programs update without you telling them to update. Or at least on the desktop tab (which is the only one I have any programs in so far) they won't. And you can even click that little blue orb up there and set it so that Impulse won't even update itself without first asking you.
PoSmedley
Reply #15 Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:05 AM
Reply #15 Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:05 AM
I miss the green, but like everything else.
but..
I'm getting this when I try to look at forum threads.
but..
I'm getting this when I try to look at forum threads.
aufisch
Reply #16 Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:47 AM
It used to be that Stardock-mpc was needed for certain features of ObjectDock and DesktopX. If you don't use either, you might be safe to unload it.
As to Impulse II. I found that it is much snappier than the "old"-version, even with the preload/fastload-feature turned off.
Reply #16 Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:47 AM
Does sdmcp.exe have to be running now that Impulse.exe is running in processes?
It used to be that Stardock-mpc was needed for certain features of ObjectDock and DesktopX. If you don't use either, you might be safe to unload it.
As to Impulse II. I found that it is much snappier than the "old"-version, even with the preload/fastload-feature turned off.
sb_41
Reply #18 Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:15 PM
Reply #18 Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:15 PM
Nice new look & feel! Perfect for this time of the year!
However, still no skinning function... 
Alan Lindsay
Reply #19 Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:44 PM
Reply #19 Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:44 PM
The new color scheme is both ugly and difficult to read. What you had before was much easier on the eyes. Adobe seems to be the only company that can really implement darker interfaces with success. If you are going to go dark you should consider usability. While you will no doubt get a number of people who say the skin is cool your target audience (or the audience you are trying to expand to) likely won't appreciate it or its design. Most people just want to use the app for its utility and wading through neon lights doesn't offer any advantage in my opinion.
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Reply #1 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 1:52 PM